Wheelbarrow with steering device



Dec. 27, 1949 J. A. LA RIVIERE 2,492,157

WHEELBARROW WITH STEERING DEVICE Filed May 18, 1948 INVENTOR. (Joseph A. La P/V/er aw i ATTDRN EYB Patented Dec. 27, 1949 WHEEEB'RRROW WITH STEERING DEVICE J'osep'h m-liwltiviere, Vancouver, British Golu-mbia, Canada Applicatibn May 18, 1948; Serial No. 271631 4; Claims;-

This invention relates to a' wheel barrow and more" particularly to a wheel barrow provided with a steering mechanism.

The object of the invention is to" provide steeri'ng means'foratransport'vehi'clesuch as a wheel barrow whereby the vehicle maybe steered in order to: make turns without requiring: lateral swinging-movement of thewehicl'e.

Another object of the invention i's'to provide steering means for hand operated vehicles in. which the steering operation may be carried out without requiring that theoperator shift hands from their-normal positions on the handle.

A further'ohie'ct of the invention is to provide a steering means. for a. transport vehicle such. as a wheel barrow which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture Other objectsand advantageswill be apparent during the course of thefollowing description In the accompanying drawings forming a part L of this application, andin-which: like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a side elevationalview'of'the wheel barrow provided with thesteerin'g-means, according to the present invention;

Figure? is a view taken on the line 2-2 of- Fi'gure 1;

Figure 31's a' view taken on the line 3-3 o'fF'ig- Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional view showing a modified type of slide;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the slide.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the numeral I0 designates the barrow body or receptacle, and secured to the barrow body or re ceptacle H] by rivets II are the side bars l2 and L Slidably mounted on the front end of the bar I3 is the slide l8 which is provided with a web I9, Figure 4, an L-shaped upper leg and the lower apertured leg 2| secured to the web |9. Ex-

tending through the apertured leg 2| is the headed pin 22 having its lower end secured to the swivel 2 bearing 23 so" that a; pivotal connection is pro vided between the bearing 23 and" the slide it}. Figures'Z and 4'. The swivelbe'aring has a cyl'i'ndrical opening 24 extending longitudinally there-- through for rotatably receiving the reduced end 25 of the axle Z G'ther-eim Fixedly mounted on the axle 2 6 intermediateits endsi's the supporting Wheel 21; the other end oftIieaXle-Z 6 is rotatahly carried by a swivel bearing 28", Figure-2 the swivel bearing 28 being pivotally connected to the-slide- 29- in a manner exactly like the pivotal connection between the slide" It andthe swivel-bearing 23, as'previously' described; The slide 29 is likewisemounted for" sliding movement along thel side bar l2.

the eye 32 of the clamp isthe hooked end of the rod 34, the otherendof therodz3 4engagingan eye 35. of the bracket 36 whichi'sslidably mounted on side bar l3; Theslidinghracket 36 is'further provided with a. second". eye 31' which is engage'df by' a hooked end of the link 38is" pivoted to an apertured' bracket 39! which" is dependingly' carried by a handle 4'0. The? handle 4]? is hinge'dly connected to the/rear endofthe side bar I3by means of hinge. 4| secured to; the handle 4 0 and. side bar.

I 3 by the plurality of screws 42 Engagin the eye 33 of the clamp 3| is the hooked end of the rod 43, the other end of the rod 43 engaging an eye 44 of the bracket 45 which is slidably mounted on the side bar l2. The sliding bracket 45 is further provided with a second eye 46 which is engaged by a hooked end of a link 41. The other hooked end of the link 41 is pivoted to an apertured bracket 48 which is dependingly carried by the handle 49, said handle being hingedly connected to the side bar |2 by means of the hinge 50.

In Figure 5, a modified slide 5| is shown for use when cylindrical side bars 52 are used in place of the rectangular side bars I2 and I3. In this modified arrangement, the side bar is provided with a longitudinal slot 53 and extending through the slot 53 is the headed bolt 54 which is spaced from the bar 52 made rotatable by the washers 55 and 56, the lower end of the headed bolt 54 being secured to the swivel bearing 23.

The operation of the device is as follows: When it is desired to turn the wheel barrow, either the handle 43 or the handle 40 is pivoted. Thus,

hooked" end of a: link" 38; The other" when the handle 40 is pivoted inwardly as shown in Figure 2, the link 38 connected thereto causes the clamp 36 to slide forward on the side bar I3 to thereby move the rod 34 forwardly, said movement causing a forward movement of the end 25 of the axle 26 to thereby effect a turning of the supporting wheel 21. When it is desired to go in a forward direction, the handle 40 is pivoted back to its end to end position with respect to the side bar l3, thereby causing the link 38, rod 34, and the end 25 of the axle to resume their original position. In a similar manner, the handle 49 can be used to efiect a turning movement or the wheel barrow, if desired.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is belived that a clear understanding of the construction, operation and advantages of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully compre- 1. In a wheel barrow including a receptacle and a pair of side bars spaced below said receptacle and secured thereto, the improvement con sisting of providing steering means for said wheel barrow, said steering means comprising a slide arranged adjacent the front end of each of said side bars and mounted for sliding movement therealong, a bearing pivotally connected to each of said slides, an axle rotatably mounted in said bearings, a wheel on said axle for suporting said receptacle, and means for moving said slides along said side bars.

2. In a wheel barrow including a receptacle and a pair of said side bars spaced below said receptacle and secured thereto, the improvement consisting of providing steering means for said wheel barrow, said steering means comprising a slide arranged adjacent the front end of each of said side bars and mounted for sliding movement therealong, a bearing pivotally connected to each of said slides, an axle rotatably mounted in said bearings, a wheel on said axle for supporting said receptacle, and means for moving said slides along said side bars, said last-named means embodying a clamp slidably mounted on each of said side bars and operatively connected to the complemental slide, and means on the rear end of each of said side bars operatively connected to the respective clamps for sliding the latter along said side bars.

3. In a wheel barrow including a receptacle and a pair of side bars spaced below said receptacle and secured thereto, the improvement consisting of providing steering means for said wheel barrow, said steering means comprising a slide arranged adjacent the front end of each of said side bars and mounted for sliding movement therealong, a bearing pivotally connected to each of said slides, an axle rotatably mounted in said bearings, a wheel on said axle for supporting said receptacle, and means for moving said slides along said side bars, said last-named means embodying a clamp slidably mounted on each of said side bars and operatively connected to the complemental slide, and means embodying a handle pivoted on the rear end of each of said side bars operatively connected to the respective clamps for sliding the latter along said side bars.

4. In a wheel barrow including a receptacle and a pair of side bars spaced below said receptacle and secured thereto, the improvement consisting of providing steering means for said wheelbarrow, said steering means comprising a slide arranged adjacent the front end of each of said side bars and mounted for sliding movement therealong, an axle arranged below said slide and operatively connected thereto, a wheel on said axle for supporting said receptacle, and means for moving said slides along said side bars.

JOSEPH A. LA RIVIERE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 633,648 Kaufiman Sept. 26, 1899 1,724,774 Parrott Aug. 13, 1929 

